Iron County register., 1887-02-10

thousand dollars, which ne ulu lInme-
| diately. If the sick man had been
poor, the doctor would, probably, have
made no charge, but he was resolved
that Parrish should not benefit by his
skill without liberal recompense there
for.-BoStoaa Journal.
| A BAD CUSTOM. .
| Some Reasons Why a Man Should rSot
| Loan His Lighted Cigar.
A placid and callow-looking young
man, who wore a silk hat, fur
trimmed coat, light over-gaiters, and
patent leather Shoes tripped nimbly up
| to well-fed man seated in the Lindell
Hotel lobby and raised mutilated
''snipe'' to his lips with, "a light, if
you please?' The weli-fed man con-
tinued to work his half-smoked cigar
while he made a careful search of
seven of his pockets for match. The
placid dude kept an uneasy gaze at the
burning cigar. Two minutes passed in
that way, and the well-fed man was
tired, and he showed it.
II haven't match, but you can
probably get light at the cigar
stand,'' said he, rising to point out to
the young man an alcohol blaze not
ten steps away
BEG y'r pawdon," gasped the cal
low one, while flush of indignation
chased over his face.
| The well-fed man resumed his seat
and puffed away serenely at his cigar.
There seemed to be nothing new to him
in the occurrence, but it was not COM
mon, and those about recognized it as
a rare instance of courage, and it was
the theme for the next half-hour's chat.
THAT was right observed the first
to speak, land, though it is a little in
novation of the popular custom, it is a
common-sense act. L always carry
matches for the benefit of my friends.
as well as for myself, that | may be able
to smoke my own cigar, but if | chance
to be caught without match [ never
have the courage to refuse to turn over
my cigar when asked for Il 'ight.' ]
consider it impertinence to ask a man
for light off his cigar, but custom has
established that impertinence SO firmly
you are criticised if you attempt to in
augurate a new era for smokers"
s.It is an old, weather. beaten and
foolish idea that courtesy makes it nee
essary to let every stranger, without
consideration of his occupation, handle
your cigar" offered a gentleman on
the other side of the well-fed man. ''If
| am smoking cigar and it is half OF
three-quarters burned, am not going
| ~, 1nt ct, bonE1a anl thnI(
turn it to my mouth. A gentleman who
| thinks before he acts would not expect
me to, and when L happen to be with
out match and do not feel flush
enough to buy another cigar, [ Ipolitcly
inform the man that l am without Il
match. 1t is only occasionally you
run upon man who is so rude as to
ask you why you don't give him your
cigar
''But if he should?'
"Well, in that case my explanation
| is adapted to the length of time Z have
to spend with the person. There are a
thousand and one objections to the
practice"
'.It was only yesterday" interrupted
an attentive listener, ''that I saw a
physician stop cutting the diseased
flesh of patient and light a cigar.
Three minutes later a man dropped
around and asked the physician for a
light. He gave it to him. 1 would not
have touched his cigar, nor would l
have allowed him to touch one l was
smoking, for man is naturally care
less animal. There is an immense num-
| ber of persons whose business 1t IS to
| handle poisonous substances, and in
addition to these there are not a few
who accidentally touch a matter of
which a small particle will taint a
cigar. The most minute speak of
poison will cling to the moistened part
of cigar, and, touched to a chapped
lips, may destroy your comfort and
the beauty of your face for weeks. The
drug clerk, com pounding prescriptions
in which are deadly poisons, runs out
to get one of the ingredients at another
corner, and while on the way considers
it his unquestioned privilege, under the
present custom, to ask you for a light.
The chemist, the scientist, the ply
sician and mechanics employed in GER
tain kinds of labor are equally danger
Gus men to give or receive 'light
from. One workman may have brass
dust on his fingers as he goes home
from work, but he does not consider
that. | will, and hereafter my cigar
will be inviolate. st. Louis Repub-
Hcan.
CLARK UNIVERSITY.